Gangs, Politics, and Socialism in America

First, let me state that I hate partisanship. I think it is the number one thing hindering the growth of our country. I am not a Democrat, or a Republican. I've been in a gang, so I know gang banging when I see it. I know how it limits individuality. Gangs frown on independent thinking, much like political parties. A gang is defined as "a group of people with compatible tastes or mutual interests who gather together for social reasons". Sound familiar?Furthermore, I refuse to have my opinions or beliefs represented by a group. This is a totally illogical concept that undermines the very principles democracy was built on. Beliefs are fluid, they change as we change, through life experience.That being said, the Republicans are really, really, on my nerves right now!Talk about sore losers. Name calling? Are they serious? Why are all these so called "voices of the party" running around calling the President a "socialist"? Why are they misrepresenting not only our President, but also the term itself?For those who don't know, socialism is divided into multiple theories. One theory, democratic socialism is defined as "selective nationalization of key national industries in mixed economies, with private ownership of property and of profit-making business". Social democrats also promote tax-funded welfare programs and regulation of markets.Again, doesn't that sound familiar?We have been a social democracy since at least 1935, when Roosevelt, considered by most to be are greatest president, enacted the Social Security Act. The act, which was amended in 1939, established a number of programs designed to provide aid to various segments of the population. Unemployment compensation and AFDC (changed to TANF, and more commonly referred to as welfare), are two of the programs that still exist today.By any definition, Social Security, welfare, and state funded unemployment compensation are "socialist" programs. Ask the people that benefit from these programs if they think they are a bad idea.Then why do Republicans?Are their no Republicans on unemployment?Do none of their grandmothers get checks in the mail?Well the answer is simple. They don't really disagree with the principles inherent in these programs, or the ones proposed by the current President. These are highly educated people,(I'm assuming), who know that in this socioeconomic climate, the playing field has to be leveled, to a certain extent.What they are doing is deliberately misleading people, not as educated as them, who only associate socialism with the more oppressive doctrines of Communism and Marxism. When they say "socialist", most people hear "fuckin' Commie"! They know We The People fear "isms"!This is a plain, old fashioned, scare tactic. It is despicable and it pisses me off!Isn't this the flag waving party of Lincoln? The self proclaimed peoples party? Well, what could be more unpatriotic than misleading the American people, and slandering the President? A president, by the way, that was actually voted in by the majority of said people. It is a shame that it has really come to this. Even my six year old knows name calling is wrong!I'm just hoping America doesn't fall for the banana in the tail pipe.For some reason I'm not so confident. July 8, 2009 at 6:27pm ·